DIY Cornmeal Cornbread

Note: There is perhaps no recipe I've investigated that is as simple and yet as fraught with passionate argument regarding the "correct" way to make it as cornbread. Adding to this battle is not my purpose here. I've provided a simple recipe that suits my preferences, but the point is to highlight the great taste provided by freshly milled cornmeal.

If you haven't already invested in a grain mill (there are many types, from hand crank to KitchenAid attachment to sophisticated powered appliances), Vitamix benders are also powerful enough to grind dried corn into a beautiful yellow cornmeal.

About the author: Molly Sheridan feels about mason jars the way most women feel about shoes. A music journalist by day, she traces her love of weekend DIY kitchen projects back to the science experiments she ran with her dad as a kid. She is the author of Wonderland Kitchen and tweetledees @WonderlandK.

Procedures

1

Place 10-inch cast iron skillet in oven on middle rack and heat to 450°F. Meanwhile, whisk cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl until evenly incorporated. In a medium bowl, lightly beat egg. Whisk in buttermilk.

2

As oven nears 450°F, remove skillet and add fat. Return to oven for a few minutes, allowing fat to heat until shimmering. Remove and swirl fat to evenly coat the bottom.

3

Add egg and buttermilk mixture plus any excess melted fat from skillet to dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Mixture will be lumpy. Pour batter into hot skillet and return to oven, bake until top is just golden and edges have browned and pulled away from the side of the pan, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool slightly and serve warm.

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About the Author

A poster child for the theory that when music journalists grow up they start writing about food, Molly Sheridan began chronicling her cooking adventures on Wonderland Kitchen in 2011. She's been stuck down that rabbit hole ever since. By day she is a writer, editor, and A/V producer specializing in classical and experimental music, with a focus on multimedia content designed for the web. Otherwise, you'll probably find her in her galley kitchen in Baltimore, dreaming up new dishes while actively avoiding measuring anything.

Trade interesting links, decent jokes, and suggestions for recipes with her @WonderlandK.

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